The Pro12, the "only professional cross-border league in Europe, is considering expanding into North America" as organizers look at ways of "closing the financial gap" with the Premiership and Top14, according to Paul Rees of the London GUARDIAN. Pro12 officials will "next month fly out to meet representatives" from the U.S. and Canada unions. The face-to-face meeting will "follow a number of telephone conversations and the Pro12’s move came after the Premiership initiative last season in which London Irish played Saracens in New Jersey." It was meant to be the first of three matches up to '18, "but the Exiles’ relegation in May has led to the plan being put on hold." The Pro12 considered "arranging a match for one of its Irish provinces" in N.Y. or Boston, but the idea "developed into something more permanent" with the U.S. and Canada interested in setting up teams on their coasts to take part in the league. Pro12 Chair Gerald Davies said, "It is something we are looking at as part of our plans to grow the league. There are sizable Italian communities there, as well as Irish and Scottish, and as long as increased travel costs are met by an increase in sponsorship, we have established it would be viable logistically" (GUARDIAN, 8/23).
SCHEDULE CHANGE: The LONDON TIMES reported Pro12 Managing Dir Martin Anayi said that the game's global season "will need to be realigned before it moves ahead" with plans to create a franchise in the U.S. Anayi insisted the Six Nations "should be shifted back at least three weeks to solve the global fixture pile-up." He expects World Rugby, the game’s governing body, "to find an answer to the game’s biggest headache before the turn of the year." Anayi: "We've had really early discussions, with USA Rugby, broadcasters, sponsors, consulting internally with our teams and shareholders" (LONDON TIMES, 8/24).
